Dialogue

[Stunaep]

One thing that JMS has with his dialogue, that sometimes can be annoying, is that he reuses it a lot. For example, how many times have we heard the phrase "He didn't listen. He never listens."

Mostly however, that was used with great dramatic effect. For example, it was great to sees Londo's token phrase, so to speak, (which is responding a why-question with "Because your my friend, because of your loyalty to your country, and because I'll fuck you up if you don't do it") used against him by Morden.

[AmyG]

One thing that JMS has with his dialogue, that sometimes can be annoying, is that he reuses it a lot. For example, how many times have we heard the phrase "He didn't listen. He never listens."

That isn't being lazy, or uncreative: it's what's known as a "leitmotif." Like in an opera, when one character has a recurring theme that helps you to recognize it's their scene, or moment, or song. In this case, rather than it being used to identify a particular character, it's more to stress certain recurring ideas in the series. There are some lines that you hear over and over through the series, to great effect, IMHO. The one you quote is one such. Another is Delenn's bit about "there are beings in the universe, billions of years older than our races..." I think that we hear characters say something about not wanting to live forever more than once, too.

Any others? Anyone? Jan?

Bueller?

Amy (the artist formerly known as Aisling)

[Dr Maturin]

Well, there is Garibaldi's "Ah, nuts!" This shows the recurring theme of his testicular obsession. The form is known as nadsmotif.

[bakana]

Most of the people I've heard (or read) complaining about JMS dialogues seemed to be suffering from Short Attention Span Disorder.

They couldn't seem to comprehend any sentence that ran over 5 words.
Or any word with more than 3 syllables.

SoundByte Itis.

[AmyG]

Well, there is Garibaldi's "Ah, nuts!" This shows the recurring theme of his testicular obsession. The form is known as nadsmotif.

You forgot to code that properly. You're missing the <rimshot> tag.

Hee.

Amy (the artist formerly known as Aisling)

[grumbler]

"We will met again, in a place where the shadows do not fall" was also used beautifully in several episodes. In some ways, the leitmotif of the show.

[grumbler]

The best dialogue in the whole five years, though, was probably Delenn's briefing of G'Kar as to what the Army of Light was about, and why they had to let Narn be destroyed, in Episode of... er, Ship of Tears, ending in

"Someday, I hope you will forgive me."

"Perhaps," is G'kar's honest answer, "but not today."

[Jan]

Originally posted by Amy
That isn't being lazy, or uncreative: it's what's known as a "leitmotif." Like in an opera, when one character has a recurring theme that helps you to recognize it's their scene, or moment, or song. In this case, rather than it being used to identify a particular character, it's more to stress certain recurring ideas in the series. There are some lines that you hear over and over through the series, to great effect, IMHO. The one you quote is one such. Another is Delenn's bit about "there are beings in the universe, billions of years older than our races..." I think that we hear characters say something about not wanting to live forever more than once, too.

Any others? Anyone? Jan?

Variations on sayings about power and choices.

Several times it's remarked that actions and choices have consequences.

Don't forget that there's often a 'terrible price' to some things.

All life is precious.

Many others, I'm sure.

Jan

[Dr Maturin]

They did the "moments are all we have" thing at least twice.

[DGTWoodward]

Originally posted by grumbler
The best dialogue in the whole five years, though, was probably Delenn's briefing of G'Kar as to what the Army of Light was about, and why they had to let Narn be destroyed, in Episode of... er, Ship of Tears, ending in

"Someday, I hope you will forgive me."

"Perhaps," is G'kar's honest answer, "but not today."

Too true! Also, because of having just watched again recently, was the closing piece between Elric the Technomage and Londo (has that already been mentioned? Oops, hope not!). Such a simple word game on Joe's part for Londo to be all built up with expectation, only to be torn down by the final four words...

"...My followers?"

"Your victims!"

Simple but brilliant,

[DGTWoodward]

Originally posted by Jan
Variations on sayings about power and choices.

Several times it's remarked that actions and choices have consequences.

Don't forget that there's often a 'terrible price' to some things.

All life is precious.

Many others, I'm sure.

Jan

It may be true that these appear an awful lot but then I don't really have a problem with them. As a person who has some (little) experience of speaking in public I can understand why JSM does it. From this writing/speaking experience I (as many others can, I know) recognise that these are the main themes of the the show. As such, there should not be too many of them so as to not confuse, and they should reappear throughout the piece to act as a symbolic 'thread', stitching all the individual pieces together. He does it very well too.

[Towelmaster]

And how many people do you know who actually use specific phrases and words again and again in real life? I think we all do that so it's logical to write dialogue like that. Of course this doesn't apply to different persons saying the same thing, although there are always sayings and words that are in fashion at a given moment.

It really doesn't bother me one bit...

[Stunaep]

Originally posted by AislingGrey
That isn't being lazy, or uncreative:

Have I suggested that?

[SpooRancher]

Alas, my Lady Ivanova has the best line.

"Who am I? I'm Susan Ivanova, Commander, daughter of Andrei and Sofie Ivanov. I am the right hand of vengeance, and the boot that is gonna kick your sorry ass all the way back to Earth, sweetheart. I'm death incarnate and the last living thing that you're ever going to see. God sent me."
-- Ivanova in "Between the Darkness and the Light"


I fell in love with her all over again with that one.

[AmyG]

The best dialogue in the whole five years, though, was probably Delenn's briefing of G'Kar as to what the Army of Light was about, and why they had to let Narn be destroyed, in Episode of... er, Ship of Tears,

Yeah, that's one of my favorite moments in the whole series.

Amy (the artist formerly known as Aisling)